Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-12-23
ONE CHRISTMAS.
BY OLIVE HARPER.

"That there Marthy Avery is the foolish
est critter that ever lived, l swan to man!
Here's her father dead, and she left with
all that brood of her stepmother's young
ones; and instead of sendin' 'em to their
grandfather she ups and says she is goin'
to support 'em herself. She won't get my
Jabez if that's her idee, for I'll just put
my foot down."
"Martha is likely girl"
There's three gals and boy baby, and
they hain't no call nor claim on her.
There's them as would make her a good,
forehanded provider, but no man won't
take hull family on his hands to onct.
It's bad enough marrying widders, but
nobody wants lot of sickly young ones
a-eating up all the substance of a farm.
No. indeedI'
"Wall, you know, Mrs. Hemphill, Mar
thy feels as if the children hes as good a
right as herself to the farm; they was her
fathers"
eyes; but he didn't make no will, and
the farm and the settin' out was all Mar
thy's own mothers, so nobody can't dis
pute her claim. Besides, what does a slip
of girl like that know bout carryin' on
q farm, I'd like to know"
''It's too bad but, as you say, she'll
find how hard it is to manage n farm. l
am greatly exercised for her, and I'll ask
the sisterhood to make her a subject of an
address to the throne of grace" said Mrs.
Pringle as she gave a little sigh, and
folded up her kitcing to take her seat at
Mrs. Hemphills well filled tea table, for
she had ridden over to spend the after
noon and have good visit.
Jabez, Mrs. Hemphill's only son, and
his father came in and took their accus-
toned places, and the father asked very
long blessing, and reached his hand out
and captured biscuit at the same mo-
ment that he delivered his "amen."
Jahez was handsome, frank young
fellow, who worked very hard and had no
vices, but who possessed a fair share of
manly virtues.
He found time, somehow, after the null
tifarious duties on farm were done, to
study, and to slip over to the Avery farm
very often.
Being a steady and handsome young
fellow, his mother naturally looked on
him with pride, and now she felt that she
was doing her duty as wise mother in
discountenancing such foolish action on
Martha's part as adopting her three little
half sisters and baby brother
Meanwhile, Martha was working as if
her life depended upon it, over a refrac-
tory churning, and her pretty face was
wrinkled into frown and her cheeks
famed crimson, and little sparks of anger
seemed to shoot from her eyes that had
yet suspicion of tears not far off.
She jerked the dasher with vindictive
little movements, as if she wished she had
some particular person under the dasher,
and withal it did seem as if that butter
was hewitched.
Il don't wonder it won't come" said
Martha, at last. "Hateful old thing! AS
if depended upon her, or as if l wanted
her 'Jabez. l guess l can manage a
farm at any rate, l must try, for with
Gods help will take care of these poor
little children. Addie can help take care
of the others-and l think she is cruel
Ohr'
This exclamation was brought forth by
the sudden sight of Jabez, as he sprung
over the fence and walked into the well
kept kitchen without a word of warning
or invitation.
He walked directly up to Martha and
Clasped both of his hands around hers as
she held the ''dasher," and said cheerily:
'Well, Martie how are you? Here, you
sit down and let me do this, and can
look at you all the while, and that will
pay me for my work"